Firstly, I have been assiduous in opposing inappropriate planning developments in my ward of Headstone South, as any member of the planning committee can attest. To name but a few - St George's playingfields, the Esso cube, Collapit Close (3), Pinner View (3), North Harrow Assembly Hall, Kingsfield Estate (3), Southfield Park (2). I am totally opposed to overdevelopments - high-rise or otherwise - with no amenity space, which in my view will be the slums of tomorrow.

A lot of things can and should be done within the current planning laws. For example, it was only I and my fellow Headstone South councillors along with the Campaign for a Better Harrow Environment who opposed the Neptune Point development because of the terrible traffic problems it will cause and because it would ruin the views from Harrow Rec. Unfortunately, the council did not support us in this. I attended the public inquiry, gave evidence and cross-examined witnesses on these issues.

Likewise, the unanimous decision by the planning committee to oppose the Dandara application was unfortunately not opposed by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. He campaigned promising, 'No high rise overdevelopments in the Outer London suburbs'. He had the chance under

current planning law to reject out right the Dandara application but chose not to. Perhaps your anonymous correspondent can explain why Rachel Joyce and Councillor Marilyn Ashton have not spoken out against the mayor's lamentable failure to honour his election pledge.

Finally, can I point out that the Gayton Road site is nearly wholly owned by the council. It is the Tory-controlled council that has actually decided to allow a gross overdevelopment on this site when it did not need to do so. Once again Boris Johnson refused to intervene when he could and should have done. Does Rachel support the development plans for the Gayton Road site or not? Yes or no? We know Councillor Marilyn Ashton does. But what about you, Rachel?

I do not think anyone is going to be fooled by some Rachel-and-Marilyn-come-latelies who are only just beginning to find out that high rise overdevelopments, including the Gayton Road site, are not what Harrow needs or wants.

I again reiterate my and the Labour Party's support for a cross-party 'place shaping panel', with outside advisors to be set up to draw up sensible holistic plans for the development of Harrow Town Centre in full consultation with local residents.

COUNCILLOR BILL STEPHENSON Headstone South and leader of the Labour Group